Machine for drawing sheet-glass.



J. PLAYER.

uh D

1T GLASS,

J Miu.

A PPLICATON YELE Patented July 9, 1912.

l1/lannion FISSI.,

J. PLAYER.

MACHINE POR DRAWWG SHEET GLASS.

APPLICATION YILBD AUG, 2@ l'U. 1,032,238. Patented July 9,19l2.

J. PLAYER.

Mmmm iw DRAW/m6 SHEET GLASS.

AFYLICAION FILED AUG.20,1DOS.

Patented July 9. 1912.

FWGE

J. PLAYER.

MAGHENB PGR DRAWING SHEET GLASS.

1\FPL!L`=A'1`IONFILEDAULLZGJDOHA 1,032,238. atented July 9, 1912 @ulmStmnufl MT M Q gli il NITED STAIES Pi TENT OFFICE.

JOHN PLAYER, F RIVER FOREST, ILLINOIS.

iMACHINE FOR. DRAWING SHEET-GLASS.

To frl/ wlw/n if muy .foncer/1 -lie it known that I. Jonx lmrifu, ofHiver l `orest, illinois. have invented a. new and useful Improvement inMachines t'or Drawing Sheet-(Hass, which improvement is fully-set forthin the following specification.

l`his invention relates to the art of drawing sheet glass. and moreparticularly to apparatus designed for the continuons production ot'sheet glass in which the glass is drawn in a long unbroken sheet in anupward direction` after which its direction is changed, preferably to ahorizontal direction. and the continuous sheet passes slowly through anannealing leer.y from which it emerges fully annealed and is preferablycut into sections as it emerges.

The object of the invention is to provide simple and etlicient means fordrawing a sheet of glass and changing its direction of movement, theparticular construction of the leer forming no essential part of thepresent invention.

The invention will be. best understood in connection with the:woompanving drawings constituting one mechanical ,expression of theinventive idea. though it will pounderstoodthat the invention iscapableiof being embodied in numerous other mechanical structures.

In said drawings, Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section throughthe forw'ard end of the machine: Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectionon the line Il--ll of Fig. l. parts being shown in elevation; Fig. 3 isa side elevation of that part of the machine shown inllfigfl: and ltigs.4 and .'i are elevational details illustratingl the bearings4 for thedrawing rolls and the connecting lfearA ing t'herefcr.

lithin a working chamber l.y there is provided a mass- 2 ot' moltenglass heated in an)v suitable manner. as b v burners 3. or b v the fasespassing from the melting fnrnacmnot shown. 'lhe working chamber l iscovered bv suitable tiles two of which. l. si, Fig. l7 extend downwardto within close proximity to the surface of the molten mass and areSpecification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 29,

l sl iaft'.

Patented July 9, 1912.

190s. semi No. 450,806.

stparated so as to leave a slot 5 between them through which the sheetof glass 6 is drawn. At a suitable distance abo e the. top of theworking' chamber' 1 is the forward end 7 of the annealing leer withinwhich the temperature of the glass is gradually reduced for the purposeof properly annealing the same. Within this forward end of 'the chamberY, there are mounted means for nealing leer, there are provided,adjacent to cach edge of 'the sheet as itis drawn, and within thechamber 7, two coperating revoluble surfaces 8 and 9, one of which, andpreferablyv both of which, are roughened. As here shown, these surfacesconsist of a roll 8 with the end portions thereof roughened and theintermediate portion 8', which is of substantially the same diameter asthe end portions. smooth. This roll 8 is mounted in fixed bearings. andimmediately above the roughened end portions thereof are correspondingcoperating roughened portions, here shown as the end portions of a roll9, which roll is mounted upon bearings hereina fter described. b v meansof which it may be adjusted toward and from the roll 8. \\'hilc as hereshown` the Toughened end portions of the roll 8 and the smooth intermediate portions thereof are shown as formed integral. it will bemanifest that, if desired the roughened portions could be termedseparate and distinct from the smooth portion` said rough portions beingltr-.vcd to the driving shaft, While the smooth portion S is left freeto turn idly upon said ln like manner, as here shown the ioughenedportions 9 cooperating with the roughened portions of the roll 8, areshown as connected h'vin intermediate portion 1() ot' reduced diameter.said portion 10 and the i'migliened portions 9 constituting one integralstructure. This intermediate connecting portion, however, is merelyemployed tor convenience of construction, and it' desired may beentirely omitted. lVithin the dhamber 't' and to the rear of the roll8,there is also mounted a second roll 11, which reterably is in everyway a duplicate o the roll 8 and cooperating therewith is a roll 12which is a duplicate of roll 9. \Vhile it is preferred to thus employthe duplicate rolls lland 12. I may, and in some cases do, omit theserolls, bu-t the best results are secured when the duplicate rolls areemployed. Preferably, there is provided an idler roll 13 between therolls 8 and 11, with the upper portion of` its periphery in the sameplane the upper portions of Vthe peripheries of said rolls 8 and 11.

As before stated, the rolls 8 and 11 are mounted in fixed bearings.The-rolls 9 and 12, however, are mounted in movable bearings, to the endthat the position of said rolls 9 and l2 may be properly adjusted with,relation tothe rolls 8 and 11 to suit the same for drawing sheets ofglass of different thicknesses, and also to provide an opportunity forsaid rolls 8 and, 11 to yield.

for the purpose ot ermitting the bait to enter therebetween. txtirexample, or for the purpose of permitting lumps or other things thatmight cause an abnormal thickness of the sheet of glass being drawn toreadily pass between the rolls.

The fixed bearings for the rolls 8 and 11 and the yielding or movablebearings for the rolls 9 and 12 are illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. 1twill be understood that each of said rolls is mounted upon a hollowshaft through which a suitable fluid, as waterfmay be circulated; thatthe ends of these shafts project outwardthrough the walls of thechamher'T 'and that the bearings are mounted 0n the exterior walls ofthe chamber one on nuts are downwardly projecting, sleeves` 18, 18,ysecured to the bearings 19 for the shafts 2O of the roll 9 or 12. as thecase may be. By adjusting the nuts 17. 17, it will be perceived that thedistance intervening be tween thc roughened portions of the rolls 8 and9 may be readily adjusted, that is. the roll 9 can approach no nearer tothe roll 8 than ".t is permitted to do by the adjustment of the nuts 17,17. The movable bearing 19, however, is free to move upward or have itsweight remove from the nuts 17, 17. It is not desirable that the totalweight of the the sheet of glass being drawn, and for the purpose ofpartially supporting the weight of the roll 9 or the roll 12, means areprovided for yieldingly supporting the mov able bearings 19. As hereshown, this is accomplished by means of links 21, 21, suitably securedat .one end to eye-bolts 22, 22, attached to the movable bearings 19andat the other end to a ring 23 which is attached to one end of `acable 24, the other end of which passes around and is secured to a drum25 mounted on a sleeve shaft 26 turning in bearings 27, 27. suitablysupported on the upperframework of the machine. This sleeve shaft 26 hasa ratchet-wheel 28 rigidly secured thereto, and a pawl plate 29 ismounted to turn loosely `around the sleeve shaft, carrying a pawl 30 tocooperate with the ratchet-wheel 28. 'A lever 31 is secured to the plate29 for the purpose of operating the same', and has a counterweight 32mounted to 'slide thereon. For the purpose of to adjust it upon thelever 31, and to secure it in such adjusted position, a screw 33 ismounted to turn in suitable bearings 34, 34, on the lever, and isengaged by a nut 35 to 'which the weight hanger 36 is secured. Byrevolving the handle 37 on the screw 33, the weight 32 may be adjustedalong the lever 31, as may be desired, to the end that the said weightmay be so positioned as to coluiter-balance so Inuchbf the weight of theroll 9 or the roll'12-as ma be desired.

Each of the shafts 15 o the rolls 8 or 11 is positively drive'n by meansof a worm 38 actuated by any suitable source of power and engaging aworm gear 39 fast on the shaft as the case may be, is driven in thefollowing manner: A miter gear 40 on the shaft 15 engages a miter gear41 on a squared shaft 42 on the upper end -of which there is' slidablymounted a miter gear 43 engaging ar miter gear 44 keyed to the shaft 20.The miter gear 41 has a hub portion turning in a fixed bearing 44mounted on the fixed bearing 14, and miter gear 43 has a hub. portionturning in a bearing 45 secured to and moving with the movable bearings19. the miter gear` 43 sliding on the squared shaft 42 to permit thismovement.

In some cases, it is desirable to remove the upper tiles 46 and 47 ofthe chamber 7. either entirely, for the purpose of removing the rolls 9and 12 or inspecting the same; or it may be desirable to slightlyelevate said tiles 46 or 47 or both, for the purpose of assisting inadjusting the temperature ot' effecting this sliding motion ofthe-weightroll 9 or the roll 12 should be supported by 15. The shaft 20of the upper roll 9 or 12,

-of the shaft 48 is provided with a ratchet Wheel 53, and a weightedpawl 54 is pivoted at 55 so as to engage the ratchet-wheel 53. Byinserting a suitable wrench or tool over the squared end of the shaft 48and revolving the same, thecable 51 may be wound upon the drum""50 andthe tile 4G lifted as desired.`

Any suitable means may be employed for overcoming the tendency which thedrawn `s heel. `has tof-draw to a string or thread. As .herein shown,such means consists of sideh'olding, fingers 56, 56, of the constructionshown, described and claimed in my application Serial No. 459,805, liledon thc 29th day-of August, 1908, but as the same form no specific partof the present-invention, it Vis'not deemed necessary to furtherdescribe themherein. y

Operationz-The mass of molten glass 2 in the working 'chamber 1` havingbeen brought l' to the desired temperature and worklng condition, thesheet of glass is started in any suitable -way known to the art, as forexample, .by lowering a bait 57 through an opening 58 in the top of thechamber 7 andJ passin it between the rolls rllfand 12, and 8 an 9,respectively, the rolls 9vv and 12 having been'previously elevated asuitable height topermit the bait to readily ass between the rolls, andthe baitis th'en -ropped down into the mass of molten "glass 2. vWhenthe bait has become sutliciently heated for -the molten glass to adhereAliftkteretov, the bait is slowly elevated byY any itable means andpassed upward over the rolls- 8 and 11 and on tothe carrier table 59,

may be of any suitable construction ,-fo"1eceiving and advancing thedrawn Kali-eet GOt-hrough the leer. 'The bait may be either separatedfrom the sheet and removed lthrou h the opening 58, or it may-bepermjtte lto rest upon the table to pass outtifardthronghv the leer andbe severed from ,the sheet as it em rges at the cutting ytable Theqbilit trthe farther, en4 o f the leer. having been passe between therolls 8 and 9,'A and 11 and 12, respectively,'the rolls 9 and 12l areadjusted so as yto bring them into 'proper 4'cooperative relation withthe sheet. This adjustment should be such as to permit;V

the roughenedends ofthe rolls to properly engage the sheet to elevatethe same into fand advance it through the chamber 7 on to thc` i table59. At the same time, care should be exercised not to .permit too greata portion ot the weight of the roll 9 or the roll 12 to rest upon t-hesheet. This desired adjustment is secured through the. medium ot thelever 31 and the'pawl 30 and ratchet 28, and.. when secured, ismaintained with the desired pressure of the rolls 9 and 12 upon thesheet byadjusting the counter-balancing weightV 32 along the lever 31,as will be readily understood.Y

In drawing sheets of glass, itwill be understood that the glass may be',and iii-practice is, drawn of various thicknesses, and it is essentialthat the rolls 9 and 12 should he free to approach nearer the rolls 8and l1' when drawing a thin sheet of glass than would be 'the case whendrawing a thick sheet. lt is for the purpose of determining the nearestapproach of these upper rolls to the lower rolls that the nuts 17 areprovided upon the' screw -threaded portions oi' the pins 16. With thesenuts 17 adjusted in the proper position, it will be seen that the rolls9 and 12 can approach no nearer to the rolls 8 and 11 than they arepermitted to do by the nuts 17, while atthe same time the rolls will b'ef free to yield upwardly to permit irregular thicknesses of glass at theedge portions ofthe sheet to pass between the rolls 8 and 9, or

11 and 12, without bringing undue pressure to bear thereon. After 'thesheet of glass is drawn from the molten mass of glass 2, 'and 'as itadvances upward .between the tiles 4, 4,y

and on its way to the bending roll 8, itis essential that itstemperature should vbe maintained at such a degree that it may be safelybent or turned over the bending roll- 8 without breaking, while at thesame time the glass should be suiiciently'hard so that the tine firefinish of the drawn sheet will not bemarred by its contact withtheibending roll. As'the drawn sheet of glass passes from the openingbetween the tiles 4, 4, and

sheet to'keep it suthcientlyngar the plastic state, so that this bendingaction 'can take place withoutbreaking, means are provided forpreventing the sheet from cooling below i the desirddegree.` s hereshown, these@A meansV eons'istflof burners 61, 61, located 'in ,anysuitable position above the drawing pointl 62, and directing hotV gasesof comrblistion against-,the sheet as it passes to the Y .dravlng roll.1f By this means, l am enabled to'retam'asuflicient amount of theinitial 'heat of the drawn sheet to maintain it in a the edge portionsof. the sheet.

2. In a machine for drawing sheet glass, a. pair of cooperatingrevoluble surfaces engaging the opposite faces of the edge portion ofthe sheet, one of said surfaces being roughened, and engaging only theedge portion of the sheet.

3. In a machine Afor drawing sheet glass, a pair ofl positively drivencoacting drawing rolls, one of which is a bending roll be neaththeQsheet and the other of which is above the sheet, and means tendingto coun- Vterbalance the upper rollwhereby its pressure upon the sheetis partially relieved.

4. In a machine for drawing sheet glass,

the combination of a pair of vertically ali'ned positively d'I'ivendrawing rolls, a bending roll between said drawing rolls and the drawingpoint, and gravity actuated means tending'to counterbalance one of saiddrawing roll.

5. In a 'nachine for drawing shee't glass, a series of pairs of drawingrolls, said rolls being horizontally alined as to pairs, the rolls ofsaid pairs being vertically alined as to each other, andgravity-actuated means for regulating 'the pressure between the'tworolls of the respective pairs. l

(i. In a machine for drawinfr sheet glass, a bending roll over which'the s- )eet is drawn and is turned from an upwasd to ahori'- zontalposition and a second roll cofperating with the bending roll to drawthe' sheet.

7. In a machine for drawing sheet glass having cooperating rolls foradvancing the sheet, one of which is a bending roll, the combination ofa fixed bearing furthe bending roll and a movable bearing for theI otherroll, means for adjusting the movable bearing, and meansl formaintaining'the relative position of said bearings.

8. In a sheetI glass drawing machine having coperating revolvingmeansfor advancing the sheet, a fixed bearing forone of said l'neans, and amovable bearing for the co-acting means, a supporting means carried bysaid stationary bearing -for said movable bearing, and adjusting meansfor adjusting the supporting bearing.

9. In a sheet glass drawing machine having. cooperating, rolls adaptedto advance the sheet, the combination of a fixed beat ing for one ofsaid rolls with a movable bearing for the co-acting roll, means `uponsaid fixed bearing for maintaining the relative alinement of saidbearings, and a counter-balancing means for one of said bearings.

10. In a sheet glassdrawing machine, the combination of a receptaclecontaining a mass of molten glass, a leer chamber having its end portionprojecting over-said receptacle with an intervening space between thereceptacle and said chamber ex osed to the open atmosphere, and a pairci? revoluble' sheet-drawing surfaces located in said leer chamber andgrasping the edge portions only of the sheet 'during tlie drawingoperation.

11. In a s heet glass drawing machine, the

combination of a receptacle containing a mass of molten glass, with aleer chamber whose end projects over said receptacle, z pair ofrevoluble sheet-drawing surfaces lo cated in said leer chamber` andgrasping the edge portions only of the sheet, roe. of said surfacesbeing roughened.

l 19. In a sheet glass drawing machin the combination of a receptaclecontainini: a mass of molten glass and having a cover with an openingtherethrough, va leer chamber whese end projects over said recap-- taclewith an intervening air space open to the external atmosphere betweensaid re ceptacle and chamber, said chamber having an opening in itsbottom above the opening in he cover to said receptacle, a sheet glasscarrier located Yin said leer chamber and moving in an approximatelyhorizon` tal direction, a smooth bending roll located in' said leerchamber and over which roll the sheet is bent into substantiallyhorizontaldirection, roughened sheet-drawing surfaces on th'e ends ofsaid roll, and revolving surfaces coperating with the -roughenedsurfaces'on the bendinggroll and engaging the edge portions only of"thesheet.

13. In a sheet glass drawing machine," the combination of a receptaclecontaining a mass of molten glass and having a cover with an openingtherein, a'leer chamber located above said receptacle' withan intervenngspace openf to the atmosphere and having an opening -in its bottomabove. the opening in the cover to said receptacle` revolubleronghened'sheet-drawing means located in said chamber and engaging theedge portions only of the sheet. and a bending roll intermediate saidroughened sheet; drawing means. y i j 14. In a. machine for drawingsheet glass', the combination of a receptacle containing a mass ofmolten glass having a cover with an opening therein, a leer chamberwhose, 'end portion projects above said receptacle and having an openingin its bottom over the opening Yin the cover of said receptacle Hifiwith un interveningr nir space open iwfthe between the drawing point insaid reeel'itacle 10 external atmosphere between the opening in t andsaid howling roll.

the ('Uver (if the receptacle und the Opening In tentinlnny whereof Ihave signed this in the bottoni of the leer chamber, two pairs fpurification in the presence of twn sub of ronghened drawing rnllsengaging the l serihing witnesses.

opposite edge portions only of the sheet, a l JOHN PLAYER. bending rll,a carrier device for receiving the sheet after it has been bent, andmeans for regulatingy the temperature o`f the :sheet Yitnessem J. D.\0AKLEY,

l l l S. T. CAMERON.

